Toy vehicle track

ABSTRACT

A toy vehicle is provided which allows the track to be bent without creasing. The track is provided with a plurality of rails and side ribs which strengthen the track against deformation even when the track is provided with loops for play or coiled for transport. Stiffener bars are releasably secured to the track to form and support loops. A connector pad and suction cup are provided to allow releasable securement of the track or window or similar flat surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to a toy track and, moreparticularly, to a toy track with improved resistance to creasing andbreakage.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is well known in the art to provide tracks for use in associationwith motorized and non-motorized toy cars. While rigid tracks may beused in association with motorized cars, for non-motorized cars a moreflexible track is desirable. For typical 1/64 scale cars, a flexibletrack allows the track to be mounted at various heights and in variouspositions. The flexibility allows the track to be manipulated to changethe path of cars moving along the track as desired. The flexibility alsoallows the track to be configured with undulations, curves and “jumps”to further add play value to the track.

To prevent cars from leaving the track, prior art tracks are typicallyprovided with rails to maintain the toy cars on a predetermined path.One drawback associated with such prior art rails is that the stiffnessof the rails causes the track to crease permanently when the track isbent. If the thickness of the track is increased to prevent creasing,when the track is bent, the rails crease instead. Such permanentcreasing in the track or rails can cause the toy cars to leave the trackand, over time, can cause the track or rails to rip or tear.

Another drawback associated with such prior art tracks is that since thetracks cannot be bent to a tight curvature, the tracks cannot be coiledupon themselves for transport or storage. Accordingly, prior art tracksare often provided a plurality of straight sections which may beconnected to one another using plastic fasteners or the like. The use ofsuch fasteners, however, adds the additional drawback of increasedrigidity at the point of connection. Because the track cannot be bent toa tight curvature, supplemental systems must be provided specializedtrack sections to create loops or the like for toy cars to traverse.Because such specialized track sections are typically provided at theends of the straight sections of track, the loops may be positioned onlyat predetermined points along the track. Another drawback associatedwith the prior art tracks is the difficulty in arranging races betweenmultiple toy vehicles. In the prior art, for racing, two tracks musttypically be mounted next to one another. Unless the two tracks aremounted in a precisely identical manner, however, the toy vehiclesrunning along the tracks will move at different speeds, therebyproviding one or the other of the toy tracks with an advantage over theother. It would be desirable to provide a multi-lane track to eliminatethese drawbacks.

It would be desirable to provide a toy track which is flexible and maybe bent around a tight curvature. It would also be desirable to providesuch a toy track of a long unitary construction which may be coiled forstorage and transport. It would further be desirable to provide meansfor creating loops in the track at any desired location along the track.It would further be desirable to provide multi-lane racing track. Thedifficulties encountered in the prior art discussed hereinabove aresubstantially eliminated by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an advantage provided by this invention, a toy vehicle track isprovided which may be in excess of two meters in length and coiled forstorage and transport.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track which mayhave multiple lanes for racing.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track which isdurable and which can be manipulated into a plurality of configurations.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track which can beconfigured into multiple loops and multiple changes of direction.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track which can bejoined with other tracks to increase layout and design configurations.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track whichreduces small parts which could cause a chocking hazard.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track whichprovides side by side racing.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track whichprovides for compact storage.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track which easyto set up and take down.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track with simplemeans for mounting the track to a vertical surface.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track with aninexpensive, lightweight mounting system.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track whichfacilitates the formation of loops at a plurality of points along thetrack.

Advantageously, this invention provides a toy vehicle track of a lowcost and high strength design which is also easy to maintain.

Advantageously, in the preferred example of this invention, a toyvehicle track is provided having side rails to prevent a toy vehiclefrom moving off the track. The toy vehicle track is also preferablyprovided with strengthening ribs on either side to prevent the rails orthe track from creasing when the track is bent. In a preferred exampleof the instant invention, the track is provided with multiple lanes toallow racing. Also, in a preferred example of this invention, areleasable retainer is provided to maintain the track in a loopconfiguration if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the end of the toyvehicle track of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of the toy vehicle track ofthe present invention, shown releasably secured to a door and configuredwith a plurality of loops.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom plan view of the connector pad shown with asportion of the film removed;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the toy vehicle track of thepresent invention shown with the connector pad secured to the toyvehicle track and releasably secured to the suction cup;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the stiffener bar of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative configuration of the toy vehicle trackof the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another alternative configuration of the toyvehicle track of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative method for releasably connecting twotracks of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the toy vehicle track of thepresent invention shown coiled for storage; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative single lane embodiment of the toyvehicle track of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A toy vehicle track is shown generally as (10) in FIG. 1. The track (10)is preferably formed of colored, extruded polyvinylchloride. As shown inFIG. 1, the track (10) includes a left track surface (12) and a righttrack surface (14), separated by a center rail (16). The left tracksurface (12) and right track surface (14) are bordered by a left rail(18) and a right rail (20), respectively. Extending laterally from, andintegral with, the left track surface (12) is a left rib (22), andextending laterally from, and integral with, the right track surface(14) is a right rib (24). Although the track (10) may be constructed ofany suitable dimensions or configurations, in the preferred embodiment,the left track surface (12) and right track surface (14) are eachpreferably between 0.5 and 20 centimeters wide, and between 0.5 and 100millimeters thick, more preferably, between 2 and 6 centimeters wide andbetween 1 and 2 millimeters thick, and most preferably, about 4.3centimeters wide and 1.5 millimeters thick, to accommodate a 1/64 scalecar (21). (FIG. 2). The ribs (22) and (24) are preferably the samethickness as the track surfaces (12) and (14), and preferably extendbetween 1 and 10 millimeters, more preferably between 2.5 and 7.5millimeters wide, and most preferably about 4.7 millimeters laterallyfrom the center line of the associated rail (18) or (20).

The rails (16), (18) and (20) are preferably between 1 and 100millimeters high, more preferably between 25 and 75 millimeters high,and most preferably about 46 millimeters high. Although the tracksurfaces (12) and (14), rails (16), (18) and (20), and ribs (22) and(24) may be constructed in any desired configuration relative to oneanother, in the preferred embodiment, the rails (16), (18) and (20) areprovided perpendicular relative to the track surfaces (12) and (14). Ifdesired, the outside rails (18) and (20) may be angled outward from theedges of the track surfaces (12) and (14). The ribs (22) and (24) arepreferably parallel to the track surfaces (12) and (14), and morepreferably planer and integral with the track surfaces (12) and (14).

If desired, however, the ribs (22) and (24) may be located higher on therails (18) and (20), may undulate along the outside rails (18) and (20),or may be provided with supplemental ribs to add further strength to thetoy vehicle track (10). Although the toy vehicle track (10) may beconstructed with rails and ribs of any suitable configuration, the tracksurfaces (12) and (14), rails (16), (18) and (20), and ribs (22) and(24) are preferably constructed in a manner which prevents the tracksurfaces (12) and (14), and rails (16), (18) and (20), from “creasing”when the toy vehicle track (10) is coiled. Preferably the rails(16),(18) and (20) are constructed to ripple before the force of therails (16), (18) and (20) causes the track surfaces (12) and (14) tocrease. This accomplished by using a combination of thick track surfaces(12) and (14), and short flexible rails (16), (18) and (20), allconstructed of a flexible material, such as polyvinylchloride, whichresists creasing. If desired, rails (16), (18) and (20) may be providedto divide the track surfaces (12) and (14) into one, two, three or anyplurality of track surfaces (12) and (14). The toy vehicle track ispreferably between 0.5 and 5 meters long, more preferably between 1 and3 meters long, and most preferably about 2 meters long.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when it is desired to attach the toy vehicletrack (10) to the window (26) of a door (28), a thin, plastic connectorpad (30) is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the connector pad (30) ispreferably provided on one surface (32) with a strong adhesive (34),such as those well known in the art. The surface (32) is preferablycovered with a film (36), cut generally into a top section (38) and abottom section (40). When it is desired to attach the connector pad (30)to the bottom (42) of the toy track (10), the bottom section (40) of theconnector pad (30) is removed, revealing the adhesive (34). (FIGS. 3-4).The adhesive (34) is thereafter pressed against the bottom (42) of thetoy vehicle (10) and allowed to cure. The top section (38) remains onthe connector pad (30) to prevent the adhesive (34) from securing to anyundesired parts. As shown in FIG. 3, the connector pad (30) ispreferably provided with a die cut (44) defining a lower, larger circle(46) and an upper, smaller circle (48).

As shown in FIG. 2, when it is desired to attach the toy vehicle track(10) to the window (26) of the door (28), a standard suction cup (50)provided with a boss (52) is releasably secured to the window (26). Thedie cut (44) is then provided over the boss (52) and lowered until theupper circle (48) engages the boss (52). The boss (52) may be providedwith a narrow center portion to retain the upper circle (48) and preventthe upper circle (48) from inadvertently becoming dislodged from theboss (52). Although the start (54) of the track (10) may be releasablysecured to the window (26) at any desirable height, in the preferredembodiment, the start (54) of the track (10) is preferably releasablysecured between 1 and 2 meters from the floor (56). As shown in FIG. 2,the track (10) may be configured with a plurality of loops (58) andundulations (60). The undulations (60) may be provided using simplybooks (61) or other materials placed under the track (10). Similarly,the loops (58) may be provided by simply looping the track (10) at thedesired point.

As shown in FIG. 5, a steel stiffener bar (62) is provided to secure thetrack (10) in place. Attaching the stiffener bar (62) to the track (10)and adjusting the location of the stiffener bar (62) allows the angle ofdescent of the track (10) to be adjusted, while preventing the weight ofthe suspended portion of the track (10) from pulling the remainingportion of the track (10) rearward, resulting in an undesirable increasein the angle of descent. Additionally, while loops (58) may be formed inthe track (10) without additional support, the stiffener bar (62) mayalso be used to form loops (58) in the track (10) and prevent anyundesired shift of the loops (58) during play. (FIGS. 2 and 5). As shownin FIG. 5, the stiffener bar (62) is preferably provided with a pair ofstiffening ribs (64) and (66) running the length of the bar (62). Thestiffener bar (62) is also provided with a pair of tabs (68) and (70).The tabs (68) and (70) are preferably sized and spaced to engage theribs (22) and (24) of the track (10). The stiffener bar (62) ispreferably one and one-half times the width of the track (10) and, morepreferably, at least twice as long as the width of the track (10). Oncethe stiffener bar (62) has been placed beneath the track (10) and thetabs (68) and (70) engaged with the ribs (22) and (24), the portion ofthe loop (58) passing over the stiffener bar (62), but not connected tothe tabs (68) and (70), rests upon the stiffening bar (62). This addeddownward pressure on the stiffener bar (62) further limits movement ofthe stiffener bar (62) and, in turn, undesired movement of the loop(58). As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of stiffener bars (62) may beprovided to provide a plurality of loops. Although the stiffener bars(62) are preferably constructed of steel, any desired material and anydesired configuration may be utilized.

An alternative arrangement of the track (10) is shown in FIG. 6, inwhich a stiffener bar (62) is used to create a curving right-angled loop(72). In another alternative configuration of the track (10) is shown inFIG. 7, in which two stiffener bars (74) and (76) are used to create apair of offset loops (78) and (80). If desired, a box (82) or similarsupport, may be positioned between the loops (78) and (80) to furtheradd support to the track (10).

As shown in FIG. 7, if it is desired to couple a second track (84) tothe track (10), a second connector pad (30) may be used with theentirety of the film removed. The connector pad (86) is coupled to thebottom (42) of the track (10) and the bottom (88) of the second track(84). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, for a releasable connection, astiffener bar (62) may be used to straddle the ribs (22), (24), (90) and(92) of both tracks (10) and (84) and secure the tracks (10) and (84)together. In these manners, or in any other manner known in the art, anyplurality of tracks (10) may be coupled to one another.

When it is desired to store the track (10), the track (10) may be coiledas shown in FIG. 9. Preferably, the two-meter track (10) may be coiledinto a coil (94) less than 50 centimeters in diameter, and morepreferably less than 20 centimeters in diameter without the track (10)permanently creasing. The track (10) may be maintained in the coiledposition within a box (92), with a releasable tie (not show) or with anyother suitable means known in the art. FIG. 10 illustrates analternative embodiment of the track (96) shown with a single lane (98).The track (96) may be configured as described above and may be coupledto additional lengths of track (96) as desired.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof, it also to be understood that it is not to be solimited, since changes and modifications can be made therein which arewithin the full, intended scope of this invention as defined by theappended claims. As an example, a clamp or any other suitable means maybe used to secure the track (10) to a table or the like, or the track(10) may be wedged between the top of a door and the doorframe to securethe track.

1. A toy vehicle surface comprising: (a) a flexible track comprising:(i) a longitudinal dimension having a first side and a second side; (ii)a lateral dimension; and (iii) wherein said longitudinal dimension islonger than said lateral dimension; (b) a first rail having a first sideand a second side, wherein said first rail is provided along said firstside of said longitudinal dimension of said track; (c) a second railhaving a first side and a second side, wherein said second rail isprovided along said second side of said longitudinal dimension of saidtrack; (d) a first rib, at least a portion of which extends laterally ofsaid first rail; (e) a second rib, at least a portion of which extendslaterally of said second rail; (f) wherein said track is at leastpartially located between said second side of said first rail and saidsecond side of said second rail; and (g) wherein said track is coiled atleast three layers thick.
 2. The toy vehicle surface of claim 1, whereinsaid first rail is located substantially perpendicularly relative tosaid track and to said first rib.
 3. The toy vehicle surface of claim 2,wherein said track and said first rib are located substantially planarwith one another.
 4. The toy vehicle surface of claim 1, furthercomprising a third rail secured to said track between said first railand said second rail.
 5. The toy vehicle surface of claim 1, whereinsaid track is at least two meters in length.
 6. The toy vehicle surfaceof claim 5, wherein said first rail is at least two meters in length,wherein said second rail is at least two meters in length, wherein saidfirst rib is at least two meters in length, and wherein said second ribis at least two meters in length.
 7. The toy vehicle surface of claim 1,wherein said longitudinal dimension of said track is at least ten timesgreater than said lateral dimension.
 8. The toy vehicle surface of claim1, further comprising means coupled to a first portion of said track forsecuring said first portion of said track at a higher elevation than asecond portion of said track.
 9. The toy vehicle surface of claim 1,further comprising means for securing said track into a loop.
 10. Thetoy vehicle surface of claim 1, wherein said first rib is at least onemillimeter wide.
 11. The toy vehicle surface of claim 10, wherein saidfirst rib is at least two meters long.
 12. The toy vehicle surface ofclaim 1, wherein said first rib is at least two millimeters wide andless than three centimeters wide.
 13. The toy vehicle surface of claim12, wherein said first rib is at least two meters long.
 14. A trackcomprising: (a) a flexible surface having a first side and a secondside; (b) a first rib running along said first side of said flexiblesurface; (c) a second rib running along said second side of saidflexible surface; (d) a first rail secured between said first rib andsaid flexible surface; (e) a second rail secured between said second riband said flexible surface; (f) a catch; (g) means coupled to said catchfor securing; said catch to a substantially flat and vertical surface;and (h) a keeper secured to said flexible surface and releasable securedto said catch.
 15. The track of claim 14, wherein said first rail iswider than said first rib.
 16. The track of claim 14, wherein said firstrail is located substantially perpendicularly relative to said flexiblesurface and to said first rib.
 17. The track of claim 14, wherein saidflexible surface is at least two meters in length, said first rib is atleast two meters in length, and said first rail is at least two metersin length.
 18. The track of claim 14, wherein said first rib is at leasttwo millimeters wide and less than three centimeters wide.
 19. A trackcomprising: (a) a flexible surface having a first side and a secondside; (b) a first flexible rail coupled to said flexible surface atleast one millimeter inward from said first side; (c) a second flexiblerail coupled to said flexible surface at least one millimeter inwardfrom said second side; and (d) a dividing rail provided between saidfirst flexible rail and said second flexible rail in a manner whichdefines a first race surface in contact with said dividing rail and asecond race surface in contact with said dividing rail.
 20. The track ofclaim 19, wherein a top and bottom of said first race surface and a topand bottom of said second race surface are substantially flat andunobstructed.